"I was very fortunate," Rooney told the Daily Mail. "At the back of my house there was a small tarmac, five-a-side pitch that belonged to the local youth club. I'd only have to climb over my garden fence and there I was.

"There were other places too, we'd find a pitch in most spots but it was that pitch behind my house that me and my mates would play on for hours.

"I'd wake up, have breakfast, go out and play, go in, put my uniform on and head to school with a ball. I'd play before class, at lunchtime, come home and get out and play until it got dark. It was like a job even back then. I loved it so much. I think my mum was quite happy, as she knew exactly where I was.

"After school it could start out as three a side but soon end up fifteen a side. In the school holidays it might get to even more but soon people would tire and drop out and you might end up with just a few of you and the sun going down. I'd be out there on my own as well though. I'd go out with just a ball and practice shooting or dribbling or whatever."